A person who answered the phone at the Smoot family residence in Richmond declined to comment. Flanagan and Metal Blade's Kelli Malella, vice president of publicity, said they had no further information to release about Smoot.

Smoot performed since 2002 under the name "Flattus Maximus" with the band known for its comically grotesque sci-fi/fantasy-based costumes, stage antics and vulgar lyrics. He produced the group's two most recent albums.

Flanagan says there's no word yet on funeral arrangements or the rest of the tour, which was to include a performance at the House of Blues in Houston on Nov. 20. The tour had been scheduled to stop in Edmonton and Calgary, Alberta, on Friday and Saturday.

Lead singer Dave Brockie, also known as "Oderus Urungus," said in a statement that "at this point we are just dealing with the loss of our dear friend and brother" and asked for privacy.

He called Smoot "one of the most talented guitar players in metal today."

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A PORKY'S DEATH

Wyatt Knight, the actor who played Tommy Turner in the Porky's movies, was found dead in Hawaii last week. His wife told TMZ that he committed suicide in order to escape severe pain due to cancer and treatments for the disease. The 56-year-old's body was discovered on Oct. 26 in an isolated area near a home where he had been staying. Results from an autopsy have yet to be released.

FROM WEB REPORTS

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